The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday it has arrested two brothers in south Florida and charged them with conspiring to support terrorists in a plot to detonate a weapon of mass destruction in the U.S.

Law-enforcement officials were tight-lipped about what Raees Alam Qazi, 20, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30, were suspected of doing. One law-enforcement official said the charges weren't the result of a sting operation. The official said investigators were actively pursuing leads in the case which could lead to further arrests.

The brothers are naturalized U.S. citizens who were born in Pakistan, officials said.

A three-page indictment filed in federal court in Miami said the plot began in July 2011, and continued until the pair were arrested Thursday. Justice Department officials said the brothers conspired to provide property, funding and other services as part of a scheme to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Under federal criminal law, the term "weapon of mass destruction" can refer to anything from a homemade pipe bomb to a much larger explosive.

Lawyers for the two didn't immediately return messages seeking comment. If convicted of the more serious of the two charges, the pair face up to life in prison.

The two suspects were arrested Thursday in Fort Lauderdale. They made an initial court appearance there Friday afternoon, but it wasn't clear if any plea was entered. A follow-up hearing is scheduled next week.
Posted by: tipper 2012-11-30